Felipe Anderson EXCLUSIVE: West Ham ace ‘fulfilling a dream’ with Porto loan, but still wants Hammers return – ‘Next season I’ll be here and be stronger’
Felipe Anderson has told talkSPORT he is ‘fulfilling his dream’ of playing Champions League football by sealing a move to Porto.
But the Brazilian ace believes he still has a future at West Ham, and has vowed to prove himself and ‘come back stronger’ after his loan in Portugal.
Anderson has joined the Portuguese champions on loan for the remainder of the 2020/21 season, having slipped down the pecking order at the London Stadium.
The forward had fallen out of favour under manager David Moyes and made only two brief substitute appearances in the league this season, totalling just two minutes of action.
He did play in all three of West Ham’s EFL Cup games, though, scoring once and providing two assists, but Anderson admits it was the best decision for both parties for him to leave.
The £36million signing – then a West Ham transfer record when they snatched him from Lazio – admits he hasn’t performed anywhere near the level he was expected to, or near the level he expects from himself.
While he was a hit in his first season, scoring ten goals in all competitions, he struggled to maintain his form at the London Stadium and has scored just one Premier League goal over the past year.
But Anderson insists he is hungry to show the Hammers his worth, and fully expects to return to the London Stadium next summer - vowing to come back a better, stronger and more influential player.
In an exclusive interview with talkSPORT host Jim White, he said: “On one hand I’m sad for not helping the team as I would like, but on the other hand I’m happy to have a great opportunity to play for Porto.
“I’m very motivated and playing for Porto is a great opportunity for me.
“When I came to West Ham I had a goal and it’s frustrating, but I understand that everything can change, with the coronavirus these times are so weird and I lost my space at the club.
“I know I have a lot to show, so I think it was the right decision for both sides for now.
“I have a contract with West Ham, so next season I’ll be here and I need to do my best to be back stronger.”
Anderson also insisted there are no hard feelings with Moyes for being left out of his recent squads, with the Hammers turning around their form with back-to-back Premier League wins in his absence.
In fact, he genuinely wished his manager and teammates well, and looks forward to linking up with them again in a year’s time.
“I didn't start this season the way I wanted too, playing and helping the team, and it’s difficult to say why because I’m motivated, but the team now is going great,” he said.
“I’m happy for my mates and for the manager; I just wanted to play and that’s why it’s a great opportunity for me to go to Porto.
“I think they will do great this season. In the last games everyone saw how solid they have been; they haven’t conceded goals, they’re strong, every day they have improved in training, everyone is motivated and I’m so happy for them.
“I know they’ll do great and I wish all the best for them and David Moyes.”
But the sadness of Anderson's temporary departure from east London is also tinged with excitement, ahead of Porto’s campaign in the Champions League.
Porto were recently drawn into a group with Manchester City, Marseille and Olympiacos, and Anderson says it’ll be a dream come true to play in Europe’s top competition.
“I’m motivated because I also have a dream to play in the Champions League and that opportunity is great for me,” added the Brazilian.
“I need to do my best because I know they believe in me and everyone is waiting for big things from my football, so I’m motivated and I’m focused now on Porto and I hope everything goes well.”
Listen to Felipe Anderson's interview with talkSPORT, in full, above...